Video: MMA Live discuss UFC 121, TUF 12, Bellator 33 and more?

EPSN’s MMA Live team look back at UFC 121 and Cain Velasquez’s victory over Brock Lesnar, discuss Shane Carwin pulling out of his fight at UFC 125, recap this weeks TUF 12, Bellator 33, get a lesson on MMA 101 and Couture’s future… Video: MMA Live discuss UFC 121, TUF 12, Bellator 33 and more… [...]

Video: MMA Live discuss UFC 121, TUF 12, Bellator 33 and more… is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News

Source: http://www.mmainterplay.com/mma/video-mma-live-discuss-ufc-121-tuf-12-bellator-33-and-more/

Zhang Chuanlong Zhang Tiequan Igor Zinoviev Mark Coleman

PEREZ: Cain Velasquez the latest in a long line of fighters representing an entire culture in MMA

By: Anwar Perez, MMATorch Columnist

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This article was originally published on Friday, October 22

Fighters have always maintained that they are either fighting for themselves, their teammates, or their families. Some fighters though, have an entire culture they are representing.

This weekend, heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez will be fighting for more than just UFC gold, or his family or teammates. Velasquez is carrying the weight of the Hispanic (more specifically, Mexican) culture on his back, and is proudly waving the flag. There have been other fighters in the same situation, all the way from a cultural point of view, to the early beginnings of the sport.

When the idea of mixed martial arts came to the forefront in America, it was Brazilians that brought the sport to America. They were carrying the sport to prove who was the best fighter(s) in the world, and out of pride, as a way to show that "their" way was the best. Royce Gracie seemed to have proved that point at the very first UFC event.

In Japan, the sport had taken on a more grand scale before it had in America, and the Japanese were more than willing to test their fighters against any others representing their respective culture. Kazushi Sakuraba became known as the "The Gracie Hunter" for his dismantling of Royler and Royce Gracie disciples. Soon, more fighters were fighting from different places, not only fighting for themselves, but also representing an entire country; or in the cases of Gracie, Sakuraba, and Velasquez, an entire culture.

Randy Couture's nickname is "Captain America," and is very representative of the American culture, in the hardworking, never give up ethos of the culture. B.J. Penn is the face of Hawaii when it comes to fighting and their culture. Even though they are a part of the United States, Penn is very conscious of his island's past, and represents it from a cultural standpoint. He does so from the way that he's treated in Hawaii as a distant descendant of the last King of Hawaii to the music that he walks out to before a fight that is indicative to the culture for which he is representing. Georges St. Pierre is the same way when it comes to his home country of Canada.

All of these fighters mentioned have in some way represented their culture or country to various degrees of success. Cain Velasquez will be representing not only the country of Mexico, but an entire Hispanic culture that is pulling for him to be the one that dismantles Brock Lesnar. There is Eddie Alvarez, Nick Diaz, and Gilbert Melendez that are representative of the culture, and are already champions in the sport, but with Velasquez, it seems that he has the entire Hispanic culture behind him, rallying for a victory and celebration that has not been seen in a long time.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/pereztake/article_7275.shtml

Mike Whitehead Jonathan Wiezorek Pete Williams Matt Wiman

Ultimate Conversations: The Baddest Fighters on the Planet

Ultimate Conversations: The Baddest Fighters on the Planet In less than a decade The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) went from a novelty spectacle to a worldwide phenomenon where it’s outselling Boxing and Pro wrestling. The sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the world. The UFC broke the pay-per-view industry’s [...]

Ultimate Conversations: The Baddest Fighters on the Planet is a post from: MMA Interplay UFC News

Source: http://www.mmainterplay.com/mma/ultimate-conversations-the-baddest-fighters-on-the-planet/

Kazuhiro Nakamura Yoshihiro Nakao Roy Nelson Mario Neto

PENICK: Why Brock Lesnar won't leave MMA after UFC 121 loss to Cain Velasquez

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

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Brock Lesnar lost his UFC Heavyweight Championship last Saturday in a fairly one-sided fight against Cain Velasquez. The loss has opened up a number of possibilities in the heavyweight division, many of which directly involve Lesnar. But despite those clear possibilities, a lot of conversation and speculation following the loss has some believing we may have seen the last of Lesnar in the UFC.

With reports of an offered deal to make a one-off return to the WWE, and a shaky track record of sticking with certain professional pursuits, it's easy to see why some believe Lesnar may walk away from the sport of mixed martial arts after a humbling loss like the one he suffered.

But I don't believe it in the least.

The major difference between MMA and Brock's experiences with the WWE and the NFL is that MMA doesn't require him to uproot his family or be away from them for an extended period of time.

Lesnar is an intensely athletic and competitive person, and at the same time he's a very private, family oriented man. After dominating throughout much of his collegiate wrestling career, ending with a national championship in Division 1 at the University of Minnesota, Lesnar was able to fulfill his athletic and monetary pursuits in the WWE.

But the grind of being on the road 300 days a year, and the lifestyle it led to, proved too much for Lesnar to handle. He walked away from wrestling, not because he was incapable of doing it, but because the time away from his family and the mental grind of that lifestyle was something he didn't want to continue battling through.

When he tried out for the Minnesota Vikings in 2004, he nearly made the team, though he was cut on the final day. Still, considering he hadn't played football since high school it was quite an impressive feat. His football career ended because he would have needed to go to NFL Europe, and once again being away from his family wasn't something he wanted to do.

So while Lesnar has already walked away from two professional endeavors, they don't necessarily count as a precedent to believe he'll be on his way out following this loss to Velasquez.

MMA allows Lesnar to feed his competitive nature without taking him away from his family for an extended time. With owning and operating his own specialized camp with his Death Clutch gym in Alexandria, MN, he can go to work during the day and come home to his family. He at most would need to travel three weeks in a year for fights in the UFC, and he can afford to take the time off he needs to be with his family and to do what he pleases outside of fighting.

And let's not act like this is something Lesnar's not good at or that he can't improve in just because of this loss. Sure, it was a demoralizing beating that exposed the fact that he's still just seven fights into his career. His drive to improve and to prove himself as the best will not let him walk away now. This isn't like with the NFL where he felt completely behind the curve and unable to catch up. And he doesn't need to leave or uproot his family to improve in this sport.

Lesnar will be back, and whether or not he'll be able to sufficiently improve his game to where he can defeat a fighter like Cain Velasquez, he will absolutely be doing what he feels he can to work towards that. Lesnar's time in this sport is not at an end, and whether you're a fan or a hater of the former Champion, he will return, and he'll be a better version of himself than was seen on October 23.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/penickstake/article_7331.shtml

Kenny Florian Jesse Forbes Xavier Foupa Pokam Hermes Franca

Sengoku 15 Results: Hiroshi Izumi Claims Controversial Decision Over James Zikic

World Victory Road's Sengoku 15 went down overnight in Tokyo, Japan, with Hiroshi Izumi claiming a controversial split decision over James Zikic in the night's main event, while Keita Nakamura and Yasubey Enomoto advanced to Sengoku's first welterweight title fight.

Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/16403/sengoku-15-results-hiroshi-izumi-claims-controversial-decision-over-james-zikic/

Evan Tanner Rich Franklin Anderson Silva Pat Miletich

The pressure eases on Tito: Jenna could land Broadway gig

Jenna Jameson became a rich woman in her first go-round as an actor. Of course, she was playing herself in those adult films. Now she's really wants to show off her acting chops. The N.Y. Post reports Jameson is a strong candidate for a role in the hit Broadway show "Rock of Ages."

"... I'm praying I get the role," Jameson told The Post. "Broadway has always been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl. I am really excited."

The show's producers are impressed with the former porn queen.

A show source told us, "The producers were surprised, but Jenna has a good voice. And while she's famous for her X-rated movies, she can act. This may be a shock to traditional Broadway fans, but the show is always trying to push the boundaries."

Jameson hit the casting couch today in the Big Apple

"I'm meeting with the producers [today], and I just hope I have enough talent to carry the role. We are talking about a run that would be anything from a month to three months, and it could start very soon. I think I'm perfect for the role, and I am really looking forward to becoming a New Yorker."

What do this mean for her husband Tito Ortiz? With Jameson moving from Huntington Beach, Ca. to New York, life could be more or less complicated. He was smart in marrying up. Now Jameson may be on the verge on having more resources to support her hubby. If Ortiz loses this weekend, he may done with the UFC. Tito is 0-3-1 dating back to late 2006.

All they have to need now is some marital peace. Ortiz told USA Today that the couple hit again the skids during the last month.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/The-pressure-eases-on-Tito-Jenna-could-land-Bro?urn=mma-278897

Hayato Sakurai Ivan Salaverry Sean Salmon Diego Sanchez

Video - Exclusive: Renzo Gracie talks Matt Hughes, Edgar v. Maynard 2, Bed Bugs and his fighting future!

Renzo Gracie spoke his mind in part two of our exclusive Fighters.com video interview.  The MMA legend looks back to his fight vs. Matt Hughes in Abu Dhabi, expands on why Frankie Edgar has blown up, who will win Edgar/Maynard 2, why Matt Serra disregarded his Jiu Jitsu against Chris Lytle, and if he ever [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/10/28/exclusive-renzo-gracie-talks-matt-hughes-edgar-v-maynard-2-bed-bugs-and-his-fighting-future

Gerard Gordeau Jonathan Goulet Wilson Gouveia Jason Grace